Elastic bands having pivotally connected links and clearance openings for the biasing spring



June 21, 1960 c H. DoLA-NsKY 9415551 ELASTIC BNDS HAING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LINKS AND CLEARANCE OPENINGS FOR THE BIASING SPRING Filed Nov. 19, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS l June 21, 1960 c. H. DoLANsKY 2,941,351

ELASTIC BANDS HAVING PIVCTALLY CONNECTED LINKS AND CLEARANCE OPENINCS FOR THE BIASING SPRING Filed Nov. 19,`1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O Filed Nov. i9, 195s,- spr. No. 622,816 '5, @15P-f7 The invention relates to elastic bands, and particularly to bandsA intendedto be used with Wristwatches. The primary object olf,` 4the invention is to provide aband of simple and inexpensivec'onstruction, which is' capable of considerably greater expansion than is normally possible,V sojasto permitthe band to be easily slippedrrover the hand of the wearer.v

Another obect of 'the invention is" to provide such Va band which can be'readily shortened if it is too long, without the use of special tools and by relatively unskilled persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a band which has smooth edges, so that it will neither scratch the wrist or hand of the wearer nor cause wear on sleeve cuis or pockets.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, especally when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. l shows in top plan view a portion of a band embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing the pants in contracted position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts in expanded position;

Fig. 4 is a view looking outwardly of the inside of one of the front links;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the front links;

Figs. 6 and 7 show the blanks from which the front and rear links, respectively, are formed; and

Fig. 8 shows the band in side elevation.

This invention represents an improvement on the band disclosed in my application S.N. 559,843, filed January 18, v1956, now Patent No. 2,799,135.

The band is composed of front links 2 and rear links 4, arranged in staggered relation with one another. The front and rear links are of the same cross-section yand of substantially equal length. Each front link has an outer wall 6, side walls 8 and inwardly turned flanges 10 at the free edges of the side walls. The flanges have notches 12' cut out at each end, and central notches 14 which extend into the side walls 8.

Each rear link has an outer wall 16, side walls 18 and inwardly turned anges 20. The ends of the flanges have notches 22 which extend into the side walls 18.

Each link of one row is connected to two links of the other row by U-shaped connecting members formed from ilat spring wire and having legs 24, 26 extending into the ends of the front and rear links, respectively, and engaging the inner faces of the outer walls, and a crosspiece having portions 28, 30 of diiferent height, the higher portion 28 overlying the front link. Ar-

ranged in the front link is a spring formed of a strip of resilient metal and having a central bowed portion 32 engaging the inside of anges 10, -an outwardly bent portion 34 engaging connecting member leg 24 and pressthezbracelet-Y andthuskeep thelar Wfhstlchn arrangement@ PQ" the'position'shown i'nA'F'igys.` lf'n ,2.) appliedto thebangL'the connecti the resiliency of springs 34, 40 pand, the parts then assumingY t Storie the para whe? nigniat: reir fiposi In su'ch a structre,"`tle inwardly bent spring* serve to prevent any substantial longitudinal shifting of the springs while allowing the outwardly bent parts to engage the legs of the connecting member at points well inside the ends of the links, which is necessary for proper operation. At the same time, because of notches 12, 22, the ends of the springs can pass out of the links when the bracelet is expanded, so that the spring parts 34, 40 can be pushed substantially Hush against anges 10, 20, allowing legs 24, 26 to rock through a greater angle and thereby permitting greater expansion of the bracelet.

Since parts 28 of the links partially overlie the end edges of flanges 10, any shifting of the front and rear links longitudinally with respect to one another is prevented. On .the other hand, notches 22 prevent the creation Iof a clamping action on the connecting member part 30 between extension 44 and the upper edges of anges 20, which might otherwise result if part 44 were bent down too tight. At the same time, the use of a full width spring in the rear links is desirable in order to stabilize the motion of the parts and to ensure smooth, even movement yduring expansion and contraction of the band.

The front link is provided with -a decorative cap or cover 46 having its side walls 48 bent around side walls 8 and having tabs 50 -bent into notches 14 to hold the covers in place. These covers serve to space the rear links slightly apart so as to prevent the hairs on the wearers wrist from being caught between them. The ends of covers 46 are swaged over the ends of front walls 6, as at 52, so as to provide a smooth edge along the ends of the front links. The bending over of extensions 44 provides a smooth edge along the ends of Ithe rear links.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the claims hereto or hereinafter appended.

I claim:

l. An expansible band having two rows of links arranged in parallel staggered relation, each link having an outer wall, side walls connected thereto, and inwardly turned parts at the free edges of the side walls extending at least partly across the space therebetween, U-shaped connecting members having legs of greater width than thickness extending into said links and engaging the inner faces of the outer Walls and a part connecting said legs, and at springs in said links having central portions engaging the -inner faces of said inwardly 3 turned parts, outwardly bent portions engaging said legs at points spaced from the ends of the links and pressing the legs against the outer walls, and inwardly bent end portions', said vinwardly. turned parts having recesses therein opposite said end portions of a width* at least equal to turnedparts, the end portions of the springs in such i'rstroiiv.,v being 'narrowervthan the outwardly bent por-r tions thereof. Y A o 2. In a 'band as claimed in claim 1 the links of the second row'having extensions .on their ends bent over to overliepartially said leg connecting parts, the recesses ofthe links provided with such extensions extending into the side walls of the links.

, 3. In a band asclaimed in claim 2, all the links being.

of the same cross-section and cover plates on the 'links of such rst row extending around the sides thereof,

4 whereby the links of the second row are spaced apart when the band is in contracted condition.

4. In a band as claimed in claim l, the links of the second row having extensions on their ends bent over to overlie partially said leg connecting parts, said connecting parts having 'portions of different height, and said extensions overlying the portions of lower height, the recesses of the links provided with such extensions extending into the side walls of the links. v

5. In a band as claimed in claim 4,.all the links being of the same'cross-section and cover plates on the links of. such rst row extending around the side thereof,

whereby the `links of the second row are spaced apart when the band is in contractedcondition.

6. In a band as cl'aimed'in claim"5,`the ends of the parts of the covers which overlie the outer walls being o swaged over theends o f saidparts. I

References Cited in'thetle of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Dolansky. July 16, 1957' FOREIGN PATENTS Austrana i--l 1111516, 1956l 

